TIME ATTACK ROUND 2 2015 SNETTERTON
Here we are again. Snetterton the old saxo killer circuit...
After leaving Cadwell on a missive high there was little to do regarding prep for the next round. Only a service, split cv boot and a rear damper service to be done to get the old girl ready for its first time at Snetterton.
Serviced by Leda and repainted by myself
A week before Snetterton I had thought of nothing but my crash last year. All the replays again and again on youtube could not stop it happening.
I wanted to win at Snetterton. Not because I wanted to win the points but because I wanted to beat the circuit!
A week before the event I had been watching the weather and it looked very wet...
Session 1 warm up...
The circuit was so wet that the session started under a safety car! Taking it steady and finding more grip than expected I am slow but just getting a feel for a long wet day...
The session has two red flags and does not allow me to get a decent lap in. My best is a 1:50 but is enough for a 4th in class. No where near last years class winning 1:42, same session and conditions in the old saxo.
session 2 Warm Up
This session the circuit was wet but the heavy standing water had been lifted. The circuit would not be dry this time due to light rain. After a few laps, another red flag. Once restarted I am leaning on the tyres more finding a 1:39 in the car, I am happy till I am told I am still only 3rd behind Odwyer (turbo mini) and Braben (Airtec demo car turbo fiesta).
It is at this point I realise I will have to push on a lot harder if I want to see a podium. The gap to first is 5 seconds!
[B]Session 3 Qualifying
(where it all went wrong last year.)[/B]
After many lengthy talks with other competitors about the changing conditions, some are ready to try their dry tyres, some not. I stay wets.
This session starts with a damp track... that dries enough to use dry tyres.
I had issues with 3 other competitors not moving over and making passing very arkward. So sadly I wont be uploading much of the footage from this session. However this is my fastest lap of the day and note toward the end I switch lights on to try for a fast lap... and was blocked once again.
1:28.098
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1FWBEM7PAc
Session ends with me being 2nd 1.8 seconds behind Odwyer. The gap is still large but given the struggle I had trying to find a lap I feel confident with the 4 out of 5 points scored for being 2nd in qualifying.
Session 4 Final
15 minutes before the session it was completely dry but then again it rained heavily enough to fully wet the track!
Heading out I plough on straight away with a 1:40, 1:39, few cool laps then suddenly a drop to 1:34... I could just about see a line, not drying but not as wet as the rest of the circuit. 1:33, 1:32 and then a 1:31.991
FOOTAGE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HVatz5_txw
Feeling that I could not give much more without incident the session is ended with a red flag. I am happy in a sense that Snetterton is over.
I head back to the garage in the car. Si tells me im 4th and I should go get a timing sheet whilst they load the car
Get in
Sadly Odwyer had an issue causing his oil dipstick to pop out forced by a lot of oil. I believe this was more toward the end of the session and more laps could of been possible from him.
1st, 2nd or last I am just happy to be over this round
Taken from Timeattack.co.uk
Would like to give a massive thanks to all my sponsors, supporters, friends and anyone that's helped me to get to where I am with the car...
Alive Tuning
Roose motorsport
FST Automotive
Leda
Flock me
Powerflex
next stop is Brands hatch Sunday 21st June.